By Fr. Michael BANJO & Fr. Francis PAPA
- The day began with Holy Mass at 6:45 a.m. at Saint Joseph de Medina Parish, presided over by Most Rev. Joseph Afrifa, Vice President of RECOWA. The homily was delivered by Most Rev. François Xavier Gnonhossou.
- The morning plenary session commenced at 9:18 a.m. with a prayer led by Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), who also chaired the session. This was followed by the presentation of highlights from the proceedings of Tuesday, 6 May 2025. Thereafter, reports were presented by ITCABIC (Sierra Leone and Gambia) and CSMCVGB (Senegal–Mauritania–Cape Verde–Guinea Bissau).
III. The morning session featured three presentations in the following order:
- The Keynote Address by Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo, President of SECAM, titled For a Synodal and Self-Reliant Church in the Service of Justice and Peace in West Africa, was delivered on his behalf by Most Rev. Stephen Dami Mamza, Second Vice President of SECAM.
- A communication from the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development on migration, delivered by Mario Almeida.
- A paper by Marguerite Peeters, titled Africa and Global Governance.
- The afternoon session included two panel discussions: one on the themes of synodality and autonomy, and another on synodality in the service of justice and peace.
- From these presentations, panel discussions, and the interventions of individual bishops, the following resolutions emerged:
- Addressing Regional Insecurity in West Africa: It is necessary to reflect deeply on regional insecurity and terrorism, including the threat of armed Fulani herdsmen, and to develop coordinated pastoral and advocacy strategies that promote dialogue, justice, peace, and the protection of vulnerable communities, which include ecclesial ones.
- Bilingual Formation of Seminarians: It is crucial to facilitate the exchange of seminarians between Anglophone and Francophone dioceses to promote bilingual and intercultural formation for effective regional ministry, fostering greater unity within West Africa’s Church.
- Affirming Africa’s Responsibility and Safeguarding Cultural Identity: There is a need to reassert Africa’s responsibility for its own development; resist cultural erosion and global moral dumping by revitalising indigenous values, especially through education, formation, and digital platforms, strengthening the Church’s identity on the continent.
- Strategic Engagement with Governments and ECOWAS: It is essential to develop an action plan for meaningful engagement with ECOWAS and national governments on policy issues affecting the Church and society. Expedite the completion of the RECOWA headquarters in Abuja to enhance regional presence, strengthen the synergy between national episcopal conferences, and explore the creation of a think tank to track policy issues.
- Ecclesial Self-Reliance and Contextual Theology: There is a need to encourage local resource mobilisation and stronger inter-diocesan collaboration as external aid diminishes, while fostering the formation of African theologians capable of offering context-sensitive responses to contemporary challenges, thus contributing to the growth of the Church. This includes encouraging the clergy and seminarians to be creative and resourceful.
- Financial Stewardship and Simplicity of Life: It is imperative, following the example of Pope Francis, to commit to cutting down on extravagance and living within our means. Adopt prudent financial management practices, prioritising the needs of the poor and ensuring that resources are used responsibly to support the Church’s core mission.
- Empowering Ecclesial Institutions for Research and Action: It is important to assign seminaries and universities the responsibility of researching key socio-pastoral challenges and proposing responses within three years. Encourage bishops to implement resolutions locally and engage in diocesan-level follow-up to address emerging issues.
- Improving the Effectiveness of Plenary Assemblies: It is vital to revise the format of plenary gatherings to enhance time management and ensure more focused discussions on key issues. This includes the early circulation of documents for preparation and the introduction of extended thematic sessions, such as in-depth discussions on pertinent ECOWAS issues.
- Monitoring and Responding to Emerging Regional Threats: There is a need to stay vigilant to new regional pressures, including foreign exploitation, illegal mining, prostitution, economic dependency, the return of youth to traditional religions, and conversion dynamics in Muslim-majority nations. We need to emphasise strategies for meaningful interreligious dialogue, not only with Muslims but also with adherents of African Traditional Religion as a way of promoting justice and peace.
- Responding to the Realities of Migration in West Africa: There is a need to recognise migration as a pastoral and prophetic concern rooted in justice and synodality. The Church must address its root causes—poverty, conflict, climate change, and systemic injustice—while strengthening diocesan and cross-border networks to provide pastoral, legal, and humanitarian care. It is also essential to promote safe, legal alternatives to irregular migration and to affirm that every migrant is the face of Christ.
- Safeguarding Africa’s Soul Amid Global Ideological Currents: Recognising the rising tide of global ideologies that threaten Africa’s cultural and spiritual heritage, the Church must awaken a pan-African ecclesial consciousness that is spiritually alert and pastorally courageous. This includes prioritising the education of youth and women in Church schools, parishes, and communities—teaching the true meaning of love, family, sexuality, and the dignity of life. Priests, catechists, and lay leaders must be well-formed to counter secular agendas with clarity and fidelity to Catholic teaching. Parents must be empowered to fulfil their role as primary educators in faith and values. The Church must also offer safe, value-based alternatives to international programmes, fostering Catholic youth clubs and women’s networks that affirm life, family, and faith. In this way, Africa will speak with her own voice and shape her future in the light of the Gospel.
- Creative Media Use for Faith and Values: There is a need to utilise media creatively to spread positive, faith-rooted African values through radio talks, social media posts, and local-language campaigns focused on marriage, motherhood, and human dignity, using modern platforms to reach a wider audience and advocate for Catholic principles.
- Synodality in the Service of Justice and Peace: It is necessary to build capacity of the clergy, religious and laity in the area of promoting justice and peace and in the area of engaging in advocacy and mediation. The Church must address root causes of conflict, break the culture of impunity, and ensure her voice influences public policy. Catholics with good understanding of the Social Teaching of the Church should be encouraged to engage in public service. A renewed love for Africa and a commitment to equitable distribution of wealth are vital for lasting justice and peace.
vi. The evening session ended with the Singing of the Regina Caeli at 8.46pm
Prepared by:
- Michael BANJO – Secretary General, Nigeria
- Francis PAPA – Secretary General, Sierra Leone and Gambia
Report by CSN Media, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
